Fertilizer-distributer attachment for plows.



Patented ont. I4, |902'.

No. moza.

c. T. THOMAS. FEBTILIZER DISTRIBUTER ATTACHMENT FOB PLWS.

(Application med ocr. 21, 1901.)

(No Modal.)

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'me Nonms PETERS co., mmc-WA. wnammon. uA c.

UNITED ISTATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES T. THOMAS, OF MOUNTAIN ISLAND, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OFTVVO-THIRDS TO R. I). ROBINSON AND NV. N. CAVIN, OF MOUNT HOLLY, NORTHCAROLINA.

FERTILIZER-DISTFHBUTER ATTACHMENT FOR lFLOWS.

SPEGTFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 711,023, dated October14, 1902.

Application filed October 21,1901. Serial No. 79.468. (No model-l To @ZZwhmn it 71u07/ cm2/007%:

Be it known that I, CHARLES T. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States.residing at Mountain Island, in the county of Gaston and State of NorthCarolina, have invented a new and useful Fertilizer-DistributingAttachment for Plows, of which the Yfollowing is a specification.

My invention is an improved fertilizer-disio tributing attachment forplows, adapted to be attached to the beam of a plow in advance of theshare thereof and to distribute fertilizer in advance of the share whilethe plowis in operation in such manner that the fertilizer will z 5 beburied and covered over by the mold overturned by the plow, thusenabling a field to be plowed and fertilized at a single operation.

My invention consists in the peculiar construction and combination ofdevices herein- 2o after fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of aturning-plow of ordinary construction provided with myimprovedfertilizer-distributing attachment. Fig. 2 is z5 a vertical transversesectional view of. my improved fertilizer-distributing attachment,showing the same disposed in operative position on a plow-beam. Fig. 3is a detail perspective View of the revoluble stirrer which 3o operatesin the fertilizer-hopper.

In the embodiment of my invention I provide a bracket 1, which is formedof a single bar of metal bent to form an inverted-U- shaped clamp 2,which is adapted to be placed astride of a plow-beam and to formalaterallyextending horizontal arm 3 at the lower end of one side of thesaid clamp, at the outerend of which arm is an upturned inclined arm 4.On the outer side of the said arm is secured 4o thecorrespondiugly-inclined side of a fertilizer-hopper 5. The same is hereshown as secured to the arm 4 by a bolt 6. In the lower side of thehopper is a discharge-opening 7, and under the bottom of the hopper areguideways 8. An adjusting and cut-off slideplate 9 bears against thelower side of the arm 3 and the bottom of the hopper and is engaged bythe guideways S. That portion of the said plate 9 which is disposedunder the arm 3 is ,and passes through the said slot 10.

provided with a longitudinal slot 10. A bolt 5o 11 connects the saidplate to the said arm 3 Thereby the said plate is adapted to be moved inposition to either entirely cutoff the discharge of fertilizer throughthe opening 7 or to open 55 the latter to any desired extent in order toregulate the quantity of fertilizer discharged from the hopper.

The standard portions of the clamp 2 are connected together by a bolt12, which when 6o the attachment is secured to a plow-beam extends underthe latter. By adjusting the nut 13 of said clamping-bolt the clamp 2may be secured firmly to the beam, as will be understood. I also providea clamping-screw 14, which is disposed in a threaded opening in theupper side of the clamp portion of the bracket and is adapted to engagethe upper side of the plow-beam.

A shaft 15 has its bearings in the standard 7o portions of the clamp 2,in the arm 4 of the bracket, and in the inner inclined side of thefertilizer-hopper. At one end of the said shaft is secured a circulardriving element 16, which is adapted to rotate'bycontact with 75 theground when the plow is inmotion and which is disposed and operates inadvance of the cutting landside edge 0f the plow. In the form'of myinvention here shown the driving element 16 is a colter-disk, which co-8o acts with the plowshare incutting the mold which is overturned by theplowshare. A revoluble stirrer 17 is secured to the shaft 15 anddisposed in the fertilizer-hopper at a point directly above thedischarge-opening 7 85 thereof. The said revoluble stirrer comprisesradial spurs 18, at the outer end of one of which is ahorizontally-disposed stirring arm or blade 19, which is adapted tooperate immediately above the bottom of the hopper. 9o

From the foregoing description and by reference to the drawings it willbe understood that fertilizer carried in the hopper l'will be dischargedtherefrom onto the soil inminediately in advance of the plowshare whenthe plow is in operation and that the plowshare in overturning the moldwill bury and effectually cover the fertilizer out of the reach of thewasting influences of the sun and rain. Hence by providing aturning-plow with one of my im proved fertilizer-distrib ntin gattachments a field may be plowed and fertilized at a single operation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A fertilizer-distributerattachmentfor plows, comprising a bracket having,r an inverted- U-shapedclamp adapted to set astride a plow-beam and formed integrally with asupportingarm, a hopper secured on said supporting-arm, a shaft havingits bearings in said bracket, a driving element on said shaft rotated bycontact with the soil, and a stirrer in said hopper and operated by saidshaft, substantially as described.

2. Afertilizer-distributer attachment of the class described,comprisinga bracket formed of a single bar bent to form an inverted-U-shaped clamp 2 adapted to set astride of a plow-beam, alaterally-extending arm 3 at one side of said clamp, at the lower endthereof, and an inclined arm 4 extending upwardly from the outer end ofsaid arm 3 to the top of said clamp, a hopper secured on said inclinedarm 4, a shaft mounted in bearings in said bracket and a revolnbledriving element and stirring element on said shaft, said stirringelement being disposed in said hopper, and said driving element beingrotated by contact with the soil, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afxed mysignature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES T. THOMAS.

lVitnesses:

A. A. FARRAR, J. J. FARRAR.

